Three proves to be a lucky number for the winners of the 2016 CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals, the UK’s oldest and most prestigious book awards, announced today, Monday 20th June, at a ceremony in London’s British Library. Teacher turned novelist Sarah Crossan wins the CILIP Carnegie medal for her verse novel about conjoined twins One, her third novel to have made the shortlist in just four years, while Chris Riddell becomes the first ever triple winner of either award, winning the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for his illustrations of Neil Gaiman’s retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, The Sleeper and the Spindle. Riddell also becomes the first reigning Children’s Laureate to win either Medal.

World renowned and widely regarded as the greatest of all accolades available to a children’s writer or illustrator, the annually awarded Medals are unique in that they are judged solely by librarians. The roll-call of past winners include: Arthur Ransome, C.S. Lewis, Terry Pratchett, Noel Streatfield and Penelope Lively for the Carnegie Medal; and Raymond Briggs, Shirley Hughes, Janet Ahlberg and John Burningham for the Kate Greenaway Medal. They are joined in 2016 for the first time by the Amnesty CILIP Honour, a new commendation for the book on each shortlist that most distinctively illuminates, upholds or celebrates freedoms.

Crossan, who was previously shortlisted in 2013 for The Weight of Water and 2015 for Apple and Rain, made a passionate pledge of support for the British library system, whose closures “infuriated” her. The author explained how she had been immediately granted a library card after moving to the UK from the US three years ago, allowing her to borrow books despite holding no evidence she was legally in the country. She said: “What does this say about our society? It says that even those who are invisible in the system are welcome to learning, information and the arts – that they are entitled to social mobility and they matter.Libraries are safe places and when we close them we are saying that those people that use them and need them don’t matter. And it’s up to us to stand up and say, ‘no’.”

Crossan also called for cross-industry support for poetry. She said children inherently “trust poetry” as it is read to them from such a young age, “and then we kill it for them by around year 8 with testing leaving no space for joy or performance.” Crossan recommended poetry should be performed to fully realise its power, saying “no poet writes words so that they remain cold on the page to be scanned from left to right in black and white and then examined for GCSE. Poetry belongs to everyone, it doesn’t necessarily belong in the classroom or university nor in the bookshop ghetto next to Eighteenth Century literary criticism.”

Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell’s previous Medal wins came in 2001 for Pirate Diary and 2004 for his adaptation of Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver”. Speaking of his record third win, Riddell – for whom the support of libraries is a central theme of his Laureateship – said he was “honoured and humbled” to accept the award, going on to praise librarians as “pretty amazing people […] they love turning children into readers by teaching them one of the most important life skills you can acquire, which is reading for pleasure. Not SATs tests, or attainment levels, or league tables but the joy of losing yourself in the pages of a good book.” He said he was humbled that Neil Gaiman had chosen him to illustrate his “wonderful story…from all the talented…young…good- looking…fashionable illustrators he could have chosen.” He also thanked his publisher, Bloomsbury, for “giving me 96 pages and gold as a second colour.”

Sioned Jacques, Chair of the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals judging panel for 2016, said: “What a thrilling pair of winners we have in Sarah and Chris. Sarah’s book, One, is poignant and thought-provoking, each chapter a poem that is a work of art in its own right, while collectively they create a highly emotive and engaging story. The judges found it deeply moving, beautifully observed, unusual but perfectly crafted – the sort of book that will stay with the reader long after the final page.

“We were blown away by Chris Riddell’s work in The Sleeper and the Spindle; he is surely at the height of his powers. His illustrations lift this re-told tale into high art, offering sumptuous pleasures on every page. The more one looks at his pictures the more one notices: subtlety and complexity, the clever use of such a limited palette, the daring use of solid black areas – no space is wasted. Some 15 years after Chris first took home a Kate Greenaway Medal he shows no sign of slowing down – he remains a thrilling, prolific and prestigious talent.”

Crossan and Riddell each receive £500 worth of books to donate to their local library. Both are also awarded the £5,000 Colin Mears Award cash prize – the first year both Medal winners have received this.

The first Amnesty CILIP Honours were judged by a panel including the 2015 Carnegie Medal winner Tanya Landman. From the CILIP Carnegie Medal shortlist the Honour went to Robin Talley for Lies We Tell Ourselves, which the judges called “an exciting page-turner of a book, it vividly brings to life the human cost of prejudice and explores an historic battle for equal access to education.” The Amnesty CILIP Honour for the Kate Greenaway Medal shortlist went to Ross Collins for There’s a Bear on My Chair, a book which, according to the judges, is “packed full of joyous humour: it develops children’s empathy and shows how we can protest creatively and peacefully when something is wrong.”

Nicky Parker, chair of judges for the Amnesty CILIP Honour, said: “We are very proud to announce the first ever children’s book award to celebrate human rights. The best books are more than plot and character, they give children the empathy and confidence to stand up and shape their world for the better - and we need to give children that power today, more than ever.

“Thinking about how to persuade a bullying bear to get off your chair can teach children about peaceful protest, while the story of black students who trail-blazed integration in schools in racist 1950s America and were confronted with sexual discrimination remains all too relevant at this time of hate attacks.”

The CILIP Carnegie Medal 2016 shortlist in full (alphabetically by author surname):

One by Sarah Crossan (Bloomsbury)

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge (Macmillan)

There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake (Bloomsbury)

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness (Walker Books)

Five Children on the Western Front by Kate Saunders (Faber)

The Ghosts of Heaven by Marcus Sedgwick (Indigo)

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley (Mira Ink)

Fire Colour One by Jenny Valentine (HarperCollins)

The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2016 shortlist in full (alphabetically by illustrator surname):

Willy’s Stories illustrated and written by Anthony Browne (Walker Books)

There’s a Bear on My Chair illustrated and written by Ross Collins (Nosy Crow)

Once Upon an Alphabet illustrated and written by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins)

The Carnegie Medal, awarded annually to the writer of an outstanding book for children, was established in 1936 in memory of the Scottish-born philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919). A self-made industrialist who made his fortune in steel in the USA, Carnegie’s experience of using a library as a child led him to resolve that “If ever wealth came to me that it should be used to establish free libraries.” He set up more than 2,800 libraries across the English speaking world and by the time of his death over half the library authorities in Great Britain had Carnegie libraries.

About the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal

The Kate Greenaway Medal was established in 1955 for distinguished illustration in a book for children. Named after the popular nineteenth century artist, known for her beautiful children's illustrations and designs, the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded annually for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.

About the winners:

CILIP Carnegie Medal

One by Sarah Crossan (Bloomsbury)

Grace and Tippi are conjoined twins. And their lives are about to change. No longer able to afford homeschooling, they must venture into the world – a world of stares, sneers and cruelty. Will they find more than that at school? Can they find real friends? And what about love? But what neither Grace nor Tippi realises is that a heart-wrenching decision lies ahead. A decision that could tear them apart. One that will change their lives even more than they ever imagined.

About the Author

Sarah Crossan’s debut book, The Weight of Water, won The Eilís Dillon Award for a First Children’s Book, the We Read Prize and a UKLA Book Award. It was also shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal as was her next book, Apple and Rain. Sarah Crossan is originally from Dublin. She graduated with a degree in philosophy and literature before training as an English and drama teacher at Cambridge University. Sarah taught English at a small private school near New York until she became a full time writer. She completed her Masters in creative writing at the University of Warwick in 2003. She is also the author of Breathe and Resist.

CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal

The Sleeper and the Spindle illustrated by Chris Riddell, written by Neil Gaiman (Bloomsbury)

On the eve of her wedding, a young queen sets out to rescue a princess from an enchantment. She casts aside her fine wedding clothes, takes her chain mail and sword and follows her brave dwarf retainers into the tunnels under the mountain towards the sleeping kingdom. This queen will decide her own future – and the princess who needs rescuing is not quite what she seems. Twisting together the familiar and the new, this perfectly delicious, captivating and darkly funny tale shows its creators at the peak of their talents.

About the Illustrator

Chris Riddell is the current Children’s Laureate, a much loved illustrator and acclaimed political cartoonist. He has won the Nestlé Gold Award and two Kate Greenaway Medals. He is co-creator of the hugely successful New York Times bestseller the Edge Chronicles, author and illustrator of the Ottoline books and works for The Observer newspaper.

Amnesty CILIP Honour: Carnegie

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley (Mira Ink)

It’s 1959. The battle for civil rights is raging. And it’s Sarah’s first day of school as one of the first black students at previously all-white Jefferson High. No one wants Sarah there. Not the Governor. Not the teachers. And certainly not the students – especially Linda, daughter of the town’s most ardent segregationist. Sarah and Linda are supposed to despise each other. But the more time they spend together, the less their differences matter. And both girls start to feel something they’ve never felt before. Something they’re determined to ignore. Because it’s one thing to stand up to an unjust world – but another to be terrified of what’s in your own heart.

About the Author

Robin Talley grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, writing terrible teen poetry and riding a desegregation bus to the school across town. Robin lives in Washington, D.C., with her fiancée, plus an antisocial cat and a goofy hound dog. When Robin’s not writing, she’s often planning communication strategies at organizations fighting for equal rights and social justice.

Amnesty CILIP Honour: Kate Greenaway

There’s a Bear on My Chair illustrated and written by Ross Collins (Nosy Crow)

Poor Mouse! A bear has settled in his favourite chair and that chair just isn’t big enough for two. Mouse tries all kinds of tactics to move the pesky Bear but nothing works and poor Mouse gives up. Once Mouse has eventually gone, Bear gets up and walks home. But what’s that? Is that a Mouse in Bear’s house?!

About the Illustrator and Author

Ross’ primary teacher, Mrs Spears, told his parents that he should go to art school. 13 years went by until he was finally ‘old enough’ to get into the Glasgow School of Art. On graduating he won the Macmillan Prize for his first picture book. Since then he’s illustrated over 100 books for children and written a few of them too. Several of them have won enormous glittering awards which he keeps in a box in Latvia. Ross’ book The Elephantom was recently adapted into a critically acclaimed play at the National Theatre who made that War Horse thing. When he’s not creating children’s books he enjoys working on character development for animation studios like Laika and Disney. He also likes walking in the Scottish glens with his dog Hugo, who is an idiot, and his partner Jacqui, who is not.

Foyles Storybox Festival - bringing books to life from 23 July - 14 August 2016

For immediate release, Friday 27 May 2016

Foyles Storybox Festival brings books to life

with Harry Potter, Where’s Wally, Roald Dahl and more

23 July – 14 August

Foyles, the world-famous bookseller, has today announced the programme for Storybox, its second annual children’s festival, from 23 July – 14 August 2016.

The three-week celebration of storytelling and imagination takes place across Foyles’ London, Bristol and Birmingham branches, following on from the success of the Summer of Fun in 2015. It will see dozens of events bring much-loved children’s books to life, including the worlds of Harry Potter, Where’s Wally and Roald Dahl.

Creativity is at the heart of this year’s festival, which celebrates stories in all their forms. Alongside classic storytelling, there will be opportunities for children and young people to try their hands at illustration, making comic books and creating their own radio shows. Other highlights include a live reading of Roald Dahl’sMatlidafrom a member of the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company’sMatilda The Musical,a daylong celebration to mark the publication ofHarry Potter and the Cursed Childand Beatrix Potter festivities to coincide with the legendary author’s 150thbirthday

Included for the first time in the festival is a Young Adult strand that includes a Dystopian Creative Writing Workshop with author Emma Pass, a YA Reception with Martyn Bedford, Nat Luurtsema and Siobhan Curham, and a meet and greet with debut author Irena Brignull.

Megan Brown, National Events Coordinator at Foyles, comments:

“This year our festival is all about inspiring and enabling children to create their own stories, whether that's by recording their own radio show, making some new animal friends, meeting their favourite author or learning to draw with a renowned illustrator. Storybox offers an eclectic programme of interactive experiences to keep the whole family entertained.”

Many of the events are free to attend, with discounted family tickets available for others. Every ticket will have an optional £5 goody bag add-on which includes a drawstring bag, colouring pencils, water bottle, balloons, stickers, a bookmark, and colouring sheets. There will also be a competition throughout the festival to win a family ticket to The View from the Shard Summer Garden.